A new study shows that hospital-employed nurses suffer depression at twice the rate of the national population. Nurses experience depressive symptoms at a rate of 18% percent, compared with the general public's rate of depression, which is 9%, according to the study, published in the May/June study of Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Researchers say depressed nurses likely adversely impact their co-workers. The quality of care they provide to patients could suffer as well. Researchers blame nursing's high depression rate on the profession's high-stress environment.

Researchers say depressed nurses often exhibit a downturn in mood. They have difficulty concentrating and are accident-prone. They also struggle with time management and are not as productive as non-depressed workers.

The findings are based on surveys from 1,171 hospital nurses in North Carolina.

Dan O'Connor